The Clone Wars

A preview of this Friday's next Clone Wars episode #4.18: Crisis On Naboo, is now online with video and images. The Chancellor travels to Naboo to preside over a public ceremony, guarded by Jedi Knights. Dooku and his bounty hunters -- including an undercover Obi-Wan Kenobi -- launch their kidnapping plot.

A preview of this Friday's next Clone Wars episode #4.17: The Box, is now online with video and images. The disguised Obi-Wan accompanies Cad Bane and MoraloEval to Serenno, where they enlist in a brutal competition with other bounty hunters from around the galaxy to determine who will participate in a plot to kidnap the Chancellor.

Lucasfilm Animation has posted a 3 Day auction for the AIDS and Breast Cancer Emergency Fund of San Francisco featuring a rare Clone Wars art poster by none other than Supervising Director Dave Filoni.

A preview of this Friday's next The Clone Wars Episode #4.16: Friends And Enemies, is now online with video and images. Fleeing across the galaxy with criminal fugitives, a disguised Obi-Wan, Cad Bane and MoraloEval are tenaciously pursued by Anakin and Ahsoka, who have no idea they're chasing their friend.

A preview of this Friday's next Clone Wars episode #4.15, Deception, is now online with video and images. When the Jedi learn of a Separatist plot to kidnap Chancellor Palpatine, one of them must go deep undercover as a hardened criminal to extract information from the conspirators.

A preview of tomorrow night's latest Clone Wars episode, A Friend In Need, is now available at StarWars.com. A peace conference between Separatists and Republic delegates is interrupted by LuxBonteri, the son of a late Separatist Senator, who involves Ahsoka in his dangerous search to find justice for his mother's death.

What street date? Walmart continues to put out Star Wars 2012 merchandise while Target and ToysRUs stores remain barren. I'm not a market economist or a bean counter, but if I have product lingering in the back stock not selling, it's hurting the bottom line. It's not like it's going to spoil a 12 year old movie for us. But I digress.

Clone Wars Wave 1 consists of mostly re-issued figures with the new being Anakin Skywalker, Clone Trooper Phase II, and Commander Cody with Propulsion Pack.Chewbacca has been repainted lighter from his 2011 version to be more accurate to the series character. We present all of them except for CW3 Savage Opress, who continues to be the elusive one for hunters even with this re-issue.

Just a reminder that The Clone Wars returns from holiday hiatus this evening with the all new "Escape from Kadavo". Anakin tries to convince the Zygerrian Queen that she too is a slave and pawn in an evil Separatist plot. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan toils in the slave camps of Kadavo, a grim situation that grows increasingly bleak. The episode airs tonight at 8 pm/ 9 pm Central! Click here to view a preview at StarWars.com.

In light of new toys shipping, the Blu-Ray bonanza, and everything else going on which may or may not involve a certain blonde star's backside on a cell phone, you no doubt forgot that the two-part season premiere of The Clone Wars aired on Cartoon Network earlier tonight.

Ready for another trailer for The Clone Wars? The new season premieres September 16 and it looks like we're up for a giant water-based battle... or two. Or three if previous seasons are any indication. Want to see more?